Gregory Thaumaturgus

[Mary Naeem]

Gregory Thaumaturgus



Gregory Thaumaturgus (213-270 AD) was the Christian Bishop of Neocaesarea and a Catholic and Orthodox saint who was known for his works of wonder in Pontus during the 3rd century.
Biography

Gregory was born in Neocaesarea, Pontus, Asia Minor in 213. He was introduced to Christianity at the age of 14, and he was a pupil of Origen in Beirut. After leaving the Berytus in Beirut, he returned to Asia Minor, finding only 17 Christians in his hometown; when he completed his missionary campaigns, only 17 pagans remained. When he arrived, a violent rainstorm forced him to enter a pagan temple, which was filled with the filthy stench of sacrifices. He purified it by making the sign of the cross and invoking the name of Christ, putting the terror of God into the resident demons. Gregory spent the night in the temple saying prayers and singing hymns, and, the next morning, the demons of the temple informed the custodian of the temple that they were barred from the temple; Gregory told the custodian that his god had the power to order the pagan demons at will. The custodian asked for proof, so Gregory wrote a command to the demons, "Gregory to Satan, enter!" The custodian placed the message on the altar, and only then was he allowed to perform his sacrifices. The custodian asked for a further demonstration of divine power, and Gregory ordered a large boulder to move, causing it to levitate on its own and glide through the air. The custodian instantly believed in the word and left everything, including his family, to follow Gregory. Soon, the inhabitants of the town poured out on some account of a new marvel, and Gregory oversaw the conversion of virtually the entire region. He died in 270 AD.